By Phillip Ting
OPINION
Vanguard 6 Jan . 23 - 28 , 2017
Editorial
A war without borders
In the medieval periods in Europe as well as here in the east , China and Japan , particularly , those who ruled fiefdoms did so with organized armed forces enforcing their rules at the point of the spear and the sword . In the case of Europe , trained knights made up the lord ’ s or baron ’ s elite force backed up by less trained troops coming mainly from the peasantry . In Japan , they had Samurais , a class of welltrained warriors serving whoever was appointed by the Emperor as a vassal of certain territories , providing a tightly-knit protective armor around their master , ringed by an army of lesser-trainer warriors who nevertheless dedicated their lives in defense of their master .
In today ’ s so-called more civilized settings , such an arrangement might not be so evident anymore . But the modern warriors are still there to preserve the established order so that its laws and regulations may continue from the present generation to the next . Not with spears and swords , mind you , but with the latest weapons of war and technology that money could buy . The weapons may have changed but the intents and rationale of such arrangements have not .
The existence of the partisan armed groups ( or PAGs ) in Calbayog , Samar and five other neighboring towns protecting and doing the bidding of their political bosses is reminiscent of this era , except that PAGs have defied all rules of chivalry or fair play that the ancient knights and samurais were noted for . It ’ s a much more brutal , unforgiving , relentless war without quarters , where family ties that used to provide a protective mantle over members of the clan no longer command respect . Cousins are killed by their own blood kin when the order to do so is issued by those in the higher echelons .
According to some of its
The Weekly Vanguard is the Eastern Visayas weekly newspaper published by The Vanguard Communications and Publishing Corporation , with its main office at Brgy . 95 , Diversion Road , Caibaan , Tacloban City .
The Power of Far Vista
By Phillip Ting
Musings on federalism
I had a very illuminating conversation over Facebook , with a long time friend , former LTO director Ramon Cuyco , who , as I understand it , is one of the very few people in the civil service that has achieved a CESO Level 4 rank , which is the highest rank one can get in the civil service .
It started when Dir . Mon presented his idea about his three-tiered “ stride ” framework for federalism . I ’ ll go over his STRIDE in the next columns , but for now , let me detail what he says about the three tiers and how I see it happening , not only across the country , but also specifically in Eastern Visayas .
Cuyco believes that stride must occur within the context or the three tiers , which represents three relationships : ( 1 ) relationship between state and federal government , ( 2 ) relationship between president and congress ( meaning the shift from presidential to parliamentary dorm of government and lastly ( 3 ) the economic tier , which represents the relationship of business with governance ( meaning the lifting of restrictions on foreign capital a d other protectionist economic constitutional provisions .
I concur with him , except for that I believe it will be better if the tiers are not implemented simultaneously . I believe that the economic tier must be built up first , but this process must make sure that the final beneficiaries of any economic restructuring should be the enterprising Filipino , and not more of the oligarchs or the existing big businessmen . I believe that an opening of the market will force local businesses to become competitive .
I also believe that given a liberalized economic regime that protects international capital , not only will foreigners be interested to put money in , but overseas Filipinos might become more encouraged to seek put their international partners and put up businesses themselves . But clearly , some restrictions must still be made .
Capital flight , for example , must be prevented . Profit remittance should also be controlled to ensure that a bigger part of profits made locally would be reinvested into local markets . Exported products , however , can have a higher level of profit remittance , which should encourage investors to further invest in ensuring export quality products .
Furthermore , the rules must be managed such that the bigger benefits must accrue to the enterprising Filipino , the enterprising poor , the middle class , and less to the already rich and powerful . tier three must be made to generate this outcome : a new class of Filipino businessmen , driven not just by profit-making , but also by ethical business practice , and by a sense of social obligation to return some of their profits to their community , whether through charitable works , or through investments in social enterprises that will create more ethical and socially conscious entrepreneurs .
This will set the ideal stage for tier 2 , where the renegotiation between the powers of the imperial presidency is reduced , the powers of parliament magnified , and the individual power of congressmen are curtailed , while a professional civil service ensures the continuity of programs .
Furthermore , tier 2 is where the foundations of a tier 1 transformation must be started , because federalizing the government will mean making the state governments stronger , and that will take increasing the capacities of state government to technically plan , implement and ensure the sustainability of their own respective governance . When tier 2 has been mastered ( and it will perhaps take a 6-year term or two ), I believe the local governments will be ready by then to assume the responsibilities of statehood .#
Publisher : |
Bong Contapay |
Business Manager : |
Rey Enales |
Editor : |
Emil B . Justimbaste |
Associate Editor : |
Elmer V . Recuerdo |
Columnists : |
Prof . Rolando Borrinaga , Phillip Ting , |
Reynaldo Almenario , Eric Aseo , Jun Portillo |
Writers / Correspondents : |
Miriam Desacada ( Tacloban ), Gina Dean ( Samar ), |
Jun Tarroza ( Ormoc ), |
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Emilio Bacoto , Sergio S . Canoy Jr ., Christian RayTorres |
Asprenio G . Ladim |
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originators , such armed groups were initially used by local politicians during the limited election period , after which each armed individual either surrendered their arms to their political masters or hid them for future use . Their tasks were over after their political masters were elected . That was what happened in other areas . The goons generally faded into oblivion or disappeared into their usual daily , uneventful lives .
But here in these parts of Samar , the goons have not stopped operating or surrendered their arms . In fact , these are continuing with their murderous rampage , bereft of any political moorings . The killings have taken on the face of personal vendettas where one killing is followed by another as a retaliation of the previous act . Clans are now fighting each other or among themselves in acts of extermination that seem unstoppable .
The police and military have combined forces to stop the bloodletting , but to no avail . No one in the communities want to provide information – for obvious reasons . The informants , too , can get killed . No one is talking or filing cases . There is no evidence that can substantiate any murder case . But everybody knows who killed whom . It ’ s an open secret . The next day , someone else gets killed . And the list goes on . If you ’ re a barangay captain who has been identified as a leader in some past elections , better pack up your things and leave .
And leave for good . It ’ s a war without borders . #